Sneak Attack, Lawmakers voting on whether to allow public schools to EXPAND THE USE OF SINKING FUND property tax spending.

Grapes of Wrath, Lawmakers voting on whether TO BAN home shipment of beer and wine to Michigan consumers.

Subsidize Manufacture of Electric Cars, Lawmakers voting on whether to authorize a refundable Michigan Business Tax credit for makers of plug-in traction battery packs used in electric cars.

Authorize Special Tax Breaks for Ethanol Gas Stations, Lawmakers voting on whether to authorize a non-refundable Michigan Business Tax credit equal to 30 percent of the costs incurred by a gas station to convert existing pumps and tanks, or acquire new ones that deliver E85 ethanol or biodiesel fuel.

Elections

2012

Schmidt ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 7 in District 76.[3] He had initially filed as a Democrat, but withdrew and filed again as a Republican candidate. The general election is November 6.

The only opponent that filed to run in the Democratic primary, Matt Mojzak, withdrew from the race prior to the primary.[1]

Controversy

Schmidt found himself embroiled in controversy when a press release from Kent County Prosecuting Attorney William Forsyth revealed that Speaker of the House Jase Bolger and Schmidt were involved in a plan to tilt the election in his favor. Schmidt had defected to the Republican Party just before the primary, and made an arrangement with Bolger to pay 22 year-old Matt Mojzak to run as a Democrat in the election, but not actually conduct a real campaign. On this move, Forsyth claimed, "it is clear that the only logical reason for his [Mojak's] recruitment was to prevent the Democratic Party from mounting a viable write-in candidacy."[4]

Forsyth deemed that no laws were broken, stating, "Although this scheme by Rep. Schmidt and Speaker Bolger was clearly designed to undermine the election and to perpetrate a ‘fraud’ on the electorate, it was nonetheless legal...While Mr. Mojak ill-advisedly agreed to participate in this misadventure, it is clear that he was duped into doing so and is the least culpable of anyone involved in this fiasco.”[1][2][5]

In an apology to the people of the district, Schmidt stated, "It’s something that’s been digging in my mind and my heart for over two months. I should’ve consulted. I should’ve said something. In hindsight, I think about it every day, about every hour – why I did this. It was a mistake. It was a poor political decision."[6]

Campaign contributions

Contact

Recent news

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Scorecards

Tea Party Scorecard

The Independent Tea Party Patriots, a Michigan Tea Party group, grades the votes of this and every other Michigan legislator on “core tea party issues” in a regularly-updated scorecard. 100% is considered an ideal rating.[11]

January 2011 - March 2012

Roy Schmidt received a 24% rating on the January 2011 - March 2012 Tea Party Scorecard.[11]